Health Highlights: Jan. 7, 2021
By Ernie Mundell and Robin Foster HealthDay Reporters
Below are newsworthy items compiled by the HealthDay staff:
NFL Urges Teams to Offer Stadiums as Vaccination Centers
The NFL is asking teams to use their stadiums as places people can go to get vaccinated for COVID-19, CBS News reported Wednesday.
"We have encouraged clubs to contact their state and local health departments to offer stadiums and practice facilities, if practical, to serve as sites for vaccinating the general public," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement Tuesday. "These will be decisions between the clubs and their local officials based on need, location and availability."
Using arenas for vaccinations isn't a new idea. The University of Michigan's Big House, the nation's largest college football stadium, became a vaccine center and can vaccinate up to 2,000 people a day. Former hockey stadium Broadbent Arena in Kentucky is another vaccination location.
In Massachusetts, Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, is expected to be a vaccination site. The state's firefighters' union chief told CBS that Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, could also become a vaccination site.
In Miami, Hard Rock Stadium, where the Dolphins play, is also expected to be a vaccine center, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
The NFL would benefit from Americans being vaccinated because that increases the odds that state officials will reopen stadiums. Closed stadiums mean teams aren't making money from ticket sales, concession stands, merchandise and other revenue sources, like in-stadium advertising.
The news stories provided in Health News and our Health-E News Newsletter are a service of the nationally syndicated HealthDay® news and information company. Stories refer to national trends and breaking health news, and are not necessarily indicative of or always supported by our facility and providers. This information is provided for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.